Overview
The New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship is an exciting teacher‐leadership program open to experienced, licensed middle school science teachers working in New Jersey public schools. Educators accepted to the fellowship will receive a stipend and join a supportive learning community where they will learn about a research‐based, innovative science teaching routine alongside talented educators from other New Jersey districts and schools.
This year’s fellows will engage in Ambitious Science Teaching (AST), an innovative approach to science teaching grounded in eliciting students’ ideas and supporting student sense-making with NGSS three-dimensional science, on a regular basis with their students.
Participants in this science leadership program will work together in teams, consisting of three teachers. The program is based on the successful teacher-leadership model, New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship for Mathematics, implemented in 2019.
Fellowship At a Glance
- Fellowship duration
- One-year fellowship
- Eligibility
- Currently licensed middle school (grades 6, 7 and 8) science teachers with 4+ years of experience, working in a NJ public school; 75% of the classes taught during the fellowship year must include science content for grades 6, 7 and/or 8.
- Activity
- A team of 3 science educators implement and reflect on an innovative science teaching practice.
- Teams
- Each team member must submit an individual application and also include the names of their team members on their individual application.
- Time commitment
- Summer Institute (Dates TBA) and monthly after‐school meetings (TBA).
- Location
- Montclair State University and remotely.
- Benefit to fellows
- Each fellow may earn up to a stipend; high‐quality professional learning experience.
- Benefits to schools/districts
- Increased capacity for high‐quality science instruction.
Application Checklist
- You MUST access and complete the application using a GMail account. Please note that some school-based GMail accounts will prevent you from accessing the application. In those instances, you will want to use a personal GMail account to complete the application.
- Carefully read the New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship Overview.
- Teachers must identify their 2 team members when submitting their individual application. Each team member must submit an individual application for the team to be considered for the program.
- Complete a current resume. Resume must be saved as a ‘PDF’ with a filename of: “last name_district_Resume”
- Complete the Written Response Question 1. Response must be saved as a ‘PDF’ with a filename format of: “last name_district_WRQ1”
- Describe an experience within the last two years that deepened your understanding of how to teach science effectively (350 words max). Be sure to describe:
- What you learned
- What you did differently based on the experience
- How you knew it was effective
- Describe an experience within the last two years that deepened your understanding of how to teach science effectively (350 words max). Be sure to describe:
- Complete the Written Response Question 2. Response must be saved as a ‘PDF’ with a filename format of: “last name_district_WRQ2″
- Describe what interests you about learning and implementing the Ambitious Science Teaching approach with your students. Use concrete, specific examples as illustrations; “I want to improve my students’ understanding of science by implementing strategies that make their ideas public in the classroom” is better than “I want to improve my student’s engagement with each other,” for example. We’re looking for teachers who want to learn – don’t be afraid to write about aspects of teaching and learning that you want to improve upon and understand more deeply! (350 words max)
- When the resume and written responses are completed, begin the application process.
- Arrange to have the Statement of Assurance completed and signed by both your school building leader (e.g. principal) and school district leader (e.g. superintendent/network leader); the single, two-page document should then be submitted by either the administrator or the applicant. In most cases it will make sense to first secure the endorsement of your school building leader (e.g., principal), who can help you to secure the endorsement of your school district superintendent/supervisor. Please feel free to share the New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship Overview document with both administrators.
- Arrange to have the Letter of Reference form completed and submitted by a colleague or coach.